RUINED - The Price of Play: Everhide Rockstar Romance Series Book 2

by Tania Joyce

  “I love your boobs.” His gentle breath brushed over each one, hardened her aroused buds even more, making them ache with pleasure.

  She arched into his touch, wanting more of his tender strokes. Closing her eyes, she sank deeper into the pillow.

  With gentle nips and kisses, he worked his way further down her body. He hesitated at her cesarean scar, and her heart faltered. With his calloused fingertip, he slowly traced the length of the red mark. It was weird because his touch, although there, was numb against her skin. She winced. The back of her eyes stung. Would she ever get full sensation back? Probably not. The nerves had been destroyed.

  He sucked in a deep breath and pressed tiny kisses along her scar, then rested his cheek against her belly. Her heart ached as she stroked his hair. He lay still, brushing his thumb over the place where her womb used to be. He wiped his eyes, glided his hands over her hip and hugged her tight.

  She threaded her fingers into his hair and drew him back to her face. His eyes were as watery as hers. She cupped his cheek. “We’re gonna be okay, Hunt.”

  “Yeah. We are.”

  Hunter lying naked on top of her made it easier for her to focus. With their tragic loss behind them, it was time to look forward. No more sadness. “It’s time for new memories. Good ones.” She pressed her lips to his.

  “I like the sound of that.” He entwined their fingers and pinned her hands beside her head. He rocked and pressed his hips against hers. “I want to do everything to you. Kiss you. Touch you. Make you come.”

  She slipped her hands from his and slid them around his waist. She wriggled beneath him, edging his erection toward her opening. “Is this a multiple-choice or can I have all of the above?”

  A naughty smile curled across his lips. “You can have all, multiple times.”

  Heat crept into her cheeks and butterflies cartwheeled in her belly. “You better plan on staying—”

  He shut her up with a steamy kiss that stole the air from her lungs. She felt like she was melting into the mattress.

  He reached for his wallet on the nightstand, but she stopped him. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Is there any chance you have STDs?”

  “No. No chance.” He sighed, squeezing his eyes shut as if annoyed at the interruption. “I haven’t been with anyone . . . for months. My last medical before we went to South America was all clear. Why?”

  She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth. Knowing he hadn’t slept with anyone while they dealt with Ryan eased her mind. She met his concerned gaze. “Since there’s no way I can fall pregnant, I want to know if I feel different. If things have changed after my hysterectomy. If my endo’s gone.” Butterflies swarmed in her belly. “Make love to me . . . without a condom.”

  He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers. “Kar, I’ve never had unprotected sex.”

  She rubbed her hand over his tattooed arm. “There will be something in this for both of us. Please?”

  A crease formed between his brows. “Are you sure?”

  She brushed his worry away with the stroke of her fingertip. “Yeah, I am.”

  He nodded, and his gaze softened. “Okay.”

  She pulled him on top of her and drew his lips to hers. His kisses, hungry and passionate, consumed her, tingling every hair on her body. With a nudge of his knee, he edged her legs wider. Teased the head of his penis against her arousal. “Still want me?”

  Her muscles clenched, and she flexed her hips against his, eager to have him inside her. “Yes.”

  He gave a little nod. A little grin.

  Was he anxious like she was? What if sex felt different? What if it wasn’t the same? Her heart strained against her ribs and she said a silent prayer. Please, let everything be okay.

  With a gentle drive of his hips, he eased inside her. Slowly. Steadily. Seductively. Hunter moaned, closed his eyes and penetrated deep. “You’re so hot and wet and mmm. All in a very . . . good . . . way.”

  Kara clutched his back. Tightened her core around him. Oh . . . God . . . yes. That’s good. “You mean that? It’s not . . . different?”

  “No. I mean, yes.” His naked flesh pressed against hers and sent shivers up her spine. “No rubber is awesome. Hotter. Definitely hotter.”

  Kissing the base of his throat and working her way up to nibble his ear, she rocked her hips in time with his thrusts. Savored each penetration. “You feel incredible.”

  In fact . . . really incredible.

  She screwed her eyes shut and bit down on her lip.

  Oh . . . wow.

  She wasn’t expecting this. It to be this good.

  There was no pain. None.

  A tear slipped from her eye. For the first time in her life, there was no soreness or discomfort. No endometriosis to deal with.

  She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, buried her face into his neck and trembled. Kissed his salty skin.

  “Hey.” Hunter stopped moving and brushed her temple with his thumb. “Babe, what’s wrong? Is it hurting? You want to stop?”

  She shook her head, rustling against her pillow. “No. That’s just it. It’s wonderful. There’s no pain. At all.”

  His eyes glistened, warm and tender. “That’s awesome. Because I like being inside you.”

  Kara arched her chest, pressing her breasts against him. The friction of her body against his teased her nipples. “Then don’t stop.”

  “Good, because you’re driving me wild.”

  Drawing her knee up beside him, he thrust into her deep and hard. Oh wow. That . . . feels so good. His gorgeous smile filled her heart with a new warmth, warmth that had been absent for too long. He drove into her, again and again. Her core begged for release, tightening around him. Wanting him to go harder. Harder. Harder.

  “Fuck.” He hissed through his teeth.

  He eased back an inch then penetrated her all the way.

  Heat exploded from her core, and the most intense orgasm ripped through her. Oh yes! After months of pain, heartache and torture all her burning desire, frustration and rampant want for him burst from her body. Every nerve ending sparked and erupted.

  Hunter rocked into her and stilled. He groaned and shuddered. Closed his eyes and tensed his jaw. With a thrust of his hips, he convulsed with his release.

  Her heartbeat pounded against his. She wrapped her legs around him and held him close. Didn’t want to let him go. Not yet. With his cock still throbbing inside her, he smiled at her. He stroked her hair and kissed her. Tender, delicious and deep. She’d never felt so connected to anyone before. Not like this.

  He was too perfect. Perfect, even with all his faults.

  “Thank you,” she whispered. “For not walking away.”

  “I couldn’t. Not this time.” He withdrew and lay beside her. Drawing her into his arms, he kissed her forehead and chuckled, “So . . . that was round one. You wanted me to stay the night, right?”

  “It depends.” She stroked his smooth skin. “What does round two involve?”

  “Anything and everything. But exhaustion from tour has caught up with me. I need a quick power-nap. Give me half an hour, then it’s on. I promise.”

  Her belly flipped. “I’ll hold you to that.”

  She went to leave, but he held her tighter. “Stay with me. I don’t won’t to let you go.”

  “I won’t. Let me clean up and I’ll be back.”

  After a quick dash to the bathroom, she returned to his side. Snuggling against his chest, his body warmth enveloped her. She listened to his rhythmic heartbeat, and his breathing eased. His body relaxed. Within a few minutes, he was sound asleep.

  She smiled and inhaled the scent of his skin. Her heart seesawed between deliriously happy, and dauntingly terrified. Had she made a mistake? How could they make being together work? How was she going to let go of her fears? That she wasn’t attractive enough to hold his interest. That their lives were too different. That losing their son had left a permanent darkness inside her mind.
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  She flicked her apprehensive thoughts aside, filled her lungs and pressed her lips against his chest. Stop worrying about the future. Live in the moment. Hunter was here. Sleeping beside her. That was all that mattered. But could she let go of everything that had happened and give him her heart? Give him her all?

  It was too late.

  She already had.

  She closed her eyes, steadied her breath, and whispered, “I love you, Hunt.”

  Chapter 27

  Holding his breath, Hunter slipped out from underneath Kara’s bedsheets as quietly as possible, and grabbed his clothes. He needed coffee. His heart pounded as he tiptoed across the floorboards. His head spun, still reeling from last night. Kara had said she loved him. He was half asleep, but he’d heard it. Just like that . . . she loved him. How was he supposed to react? He was crazy about her, ready to commit to her. But was this love? All he knew was that he’d never cared for anyone the way he cared for Kara.

  Squeak. The floor protested.

  Shit!

  He winced, froze on the spot, and peered back over his shoulder.

  Kara looked up at him through sleepy eyes. “Trying to sneak off without saying goodbye?”

  “No. Definitely not.” He stood naked in the middle of the room, holding his clothes in front of his groin. “I was going to make coffee.”

  “No, you weren’t.” She tugged the sheet under her chin. Disappointment clouded her eyes. “You’re running. Looking for a quick escape. I get it. It’s what you do.”

  Hunter dropped his clothing to the floor and crawled back onto the bed. Hovering over her, he kissed her forehead. “You’re wrong. I’m going to the kitchen. For coffee.”

  “Are you sure?” Then the lines of concern disappeared as a saucy smile curled across her lips. “Because I’d love you to stay a little longer.”

  Blood rushed to his groin knowing what lay underneath the sheet. “How long I stay depends on you. Do you have plans?”

  “I was going to call work to see if I could go back early. I know I have another month off, but I think I’m ready.”

  He trailed his finger from the tip of her chin down her throat, over her sheet-covered chest. “Is there anything I could do to make you change your mind?” His hunger for her flared as he circled her nipple. He loved the way it hardened with one small tweak. His cock stood to attention, and he nudged it against her thigh.

  “You might be able to persuade me.” She snatched his hand away from her breast and kissed it. “But first, I want to know something. I want to know what happens now. With us?”

  His balls retracted. Total mood-killer. But he knew they had to discuss how they would navigate their way forward.

  He slumped beside her, his head resting on the pillow. She flicked the sheet across his waist. Catching a glimpse of her nakedness made it hard for him to concentrate. He edged closer to her and glided his hand over her hip. “What I’d like to happen is to stay here and fuck you all day. Like I did last night.”

  Scanning her curves, he remembered every detail of last night. After a forty-five-minute power nap, they’d hit the shower. He’d gone down on her. Nailed her on the bathroom countertop. Then they’d done it again back in bed.

  With her sweetness filling his mind, he leaned in to kiss her, but she placed her fingertips over his lips. “I’m serious. Last night was incredible. But now we’ve got the lust out of our system and emotions have settled, I need to know, before this goes any further, is this what you want?”

  He curled a strand of her long silky hair around his finger. He’d never been good at deep-and-meaningful conversations. He’d only had them with Gemma and Kyle. But for the first time in a long time, he was serious about someone. He wouldn’t run anymore. “I meant what I said last night. I want to be with you.”

  She lowered her gaze and twisted the edge of the sheet around her fingers. “So much has changed. I’ve changed. You’ve changed. I’m giving you the opportunity to back out.”

  “Why? I thought . . . this was what you wanted?” Holy shit! Was he now the one who wanted a relationship and she didn’t? The world had gone insane.

  Oh crap. What if he had misheard her? Maybe she didn’t love him. Ouch!

  Her eyes glassed over. “I’ve had to reevaluate everything in my life over the past few months. I’ve learned to fight for what I want, stand on my own two feet, and rely on no one else but me. Everything I ever dreamed of—marriage, babies, family—got taken away from me. I’ve had to start anew. For the first time, I don’t have a picture in my head of what my future looks like. I want to focus on my career. If you don’t want that or support that, I’m giving you the chance to walk away.”

  “Kar, I don’t want to leave.” He stroked the side of her face and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I think we’ve both learned that life can change in the blink of an eye. I’ve never been one to set goals or make plans. I’ve always had people around me to do that. I’ve always lived in the moment. But now, I do think of my future. Because I want you to be a part of it.”

  Her gaze softened. She grabbed his hand and entwined her fingers with his. “Yeah?”

  “I’m not gonna lie here next to you and promise you the world, or marriage, or kids. I can’t do that. But I can promise to be faithful, to be committed, and to do everything possible to make you happy.”

  He hesitated, surprised at his own words. It was as if a bolt of electric energy zapped his brain, and everything was clearer. He’d changed. Hell, he’d been prepared to become a father. Have kids. Want kids. What surprised him even more was that the thought of marriage didn’t freak him out either. But he wanted to take it slow. Take it one step at a time.

  She brushed her fingers down his cheek. “Put your mind at ease, Hunt. I don’t want to get married or have kids. Not now. Not for a long time. I want to enjoy life—remember what it feels like to live again. Be crazy. Have fun. And you’re perfect for that.”

  But a darkness swam in the depths of her eyes, and concern rippled beneath his skin. Was she being honest with him? Within a blink it was gone, and a smile drew across her face.

  He kissed her forehead and curled his hand around her waist. “I’m far from perfect, but I’m a master at having fun. I am the life of the party.”

  “Yes. I know that. But can I scare you a little?” With her tone playful and light, she held her thumb and index finger an inch apart in front of his face. “If at some point in the future things get serious between us, remember I already have designed my wedding dress. And when I had my hysterectomy, they managed to save and freeze eight eggs from my damaged ovaries.”

  His heart jumped to his throat. What? His pulse rang in his ears and frazzled his brain. Holy crap! He wiped his hand down his face and his mouth gaped. “You mean . . . one day . . . a surrogate baby might be an option? Why didn’t you tell me?”

  While he was nowhere near prepared to go through that right now, the possibility of being able to have kids didn’t have him rushing for the door. After everything they’d been through, there were so many other things graver than autism to face. They’d experienced the very worst. Maybe in the future, he could give her everything she wanted.

  “We weren’t together.” She shrugged a shoulder. “It didn’t matter. I won’t ever be able to carry my own baby.”

  “I know. I’m still not going anywhere.” Snaking his hand around the back of her neck, he pressed his forehead against hers. “We can’t predict the future, but I want to face it with you. Don’t go back to work yet. Kyle, Gem and I have two weeks off. We want to head to the beach house for vacation and enjoy the start of summer before our schedule gets crazy. Come with us.”

  “You’re serious, aren’t you?” She slid her hand down his chest and circled his nipple. Tingles shivered across his skin. “About me? About us? Last night wasn’t just talk and crazy, hot sex?”

  “No. I can be serious when I have to be. You should know that by now. But I like my fun. And I can promise we’ll
have plenty on vacation.” He grazed his fingers down her leg and up the inside of her thigh. Color flushed her cheeks and he smiled. Stroking and tickling her skin, he worked his way closer to the apex of her thighs. He hovered his mouth an inch away from her lips. “So, what do you say?”

  “Deal.”

  God, she turned him on.

  He drew the sheet away and rolled on top of her. He nudged her legs wider with his knee and rubbed his hardened cock against her. “Excellent. Now . . . time for breakfast.”

  Her giggle was as intoxicating as JD. “I don’t think I have any food here. I haven’t been grocery shopping. We’ll have to go out.”

  He shook his head and gave her his best mischievous grin. “Nah. I have what I want to eat right here.”

  He didn’t want to leave her bed. Didn’t want to ignore how he felt. Didn’t want to run away from the prospect of a future with her. Maybe he was into her more than he’d initially thought, and he didn’t want to screw this up. He needed to be sure that what he felt in his heart aligned with his head. And until then, he was adamant about having fun.

  Savoring the lingering rosy scent of her shower gel lingering on her skin, he kissed down her neck, licked and sucked her nipples, and headed between her legs. He trailed his tongue up through her hot slit. Her arousal was slick and salty. She moaned and clutched at the bedding. Now this was something he could get used to. For him, breakfast was served.

  Chapter 28

  Life had changed. Hunter didn’t think it could get much better. After two weeks’ vacation, he’d come back to work with a renewed energy. He felt human again—like himself, only better. Because he had Kara.

  But he was worried. After back-to-back meetings over the past couple of weeks, his work was about to get crazy and his travel plans would take him away from her—award shows, music festivals, and concert appearances, photoshoots, interviews, and guest performances. In the car on the way to a fitting at Conrad’s, he rubbed at the worry aching his brow. Had he done enough to ensure their relationship would survive?